Creatinine for the evaluation of kidney values
Creatinine is a waste product of the body that is produced during metabolic processes. It is found in the blood and can be measured in different doses. Most of the creatinine is filtered through the kidneys into the urine and excreted.
If parts of the kidney are not functioning properly and the filtration is disturbed, the creatinine is not excreted as strongly and rises in the urine. This increase in creatinine can then be detected in the blood and is a marker that the filtering system of the kidney is not functioning properly. Thus, creatinine is the most important parameter for kidney disease or the most important laboratory value for the diagnosis of renal insufficiency.
In the case of known renal insufficiency, the creatinine value is always elevated. If it rises, it can be an indication for the start of dialysis. The standard values of creatinine are about 1 mg/dl.
Values above 1 mg/dl indicate renal insufficiency. Values around 4-5 mg/dl usually require dialysis. An untreated creatinine increase leads to multiorgan failure over a longer period of time.
The creatinine level is also important when it comes to dosing a new drug in a patient. Many drugs are excreted via the kidneys. It is therefore important that the kidney works well to avoid dangerous accumulations of drugs in the body.
The standard values for creatinine in the blood are about 1mg/dl. If there is a creatinine increase, the first step is to find out what is causing it. It is important how old the patient is.
Older patients often have an elevated creatinine level, which can be as high as 2 mg/dl. This is an expression of renal insufficiency, which is very common in old age and often does not need to be treated. If the creatinine level rises in young people, this is often due to a lack of fluids.
Here the value can rise to 1.5 mg/dl if very little has been drunk for a long time. Young people who often go to the gym and take protein shakes and dietary supplements to build muscle, can also experience an increase in creatinine levels if they take them for a long time. If the value is not reduced, the kidney can be seriously affected.
Values from 3 or 4 mg/dl are always highly suspect. A nephrologist must be consulted promptly. With additional examinations such as ultrasound and the diagnosis of the 24-hour urine collection, further measures are taken to find the cause of the creatinine increase.
There are still some rare rheumatological diseases and infectiological causes that can be associated with an increase in kidney values. To call would be the hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can accompany a bacterial intestine illness and is very dangerous. In addition to bleeding and diarrhea, patients often suffer from incipient kidney failure, which is indicated in the laboratory by an increase in creatinine levels.
First of all, it is important to find out what caused the kidney values to rise. In many cases, and especially in hot summer months, the main cause of a creatinine increase is a lack of fluid. Those affected do not manage to compensate for the fluid that has been sweated out, with the result that the body dries out.
A first indication of dehydration is an increase in creatinine.If appropriate liquid reservoirs are refilled, the value decreases again. A progress control should be performed in any case. The values should be checked for another 2 to 3 weeks.
If it is a renal insufficiency and not a lack of fluid intake, the close laboratory control must be performed by a nephrologist. In older patients, creatinine levels up to 2.5 mg/dl can be left untreated under observation. It is important to note that certain drugs must not be given. These include Metformin® for blood glucose in particular, but also the newer blood thinners such as Xarelto®. If creatinine increases due to dietary supplements, the product must be discontinued immediately, as there is a risk of irreversible damage to the kidney.
